February 2026 Vol. 81 No. 2
Business
Business News: Expansions, acquisitions and infrastructure investment updates
Azuria
Azuria Water Solutions, a leader in technology-enabled water solutions, announced plans to establish in-house production of its Fusible PVC pipe (FPVC) at a new facility to be built near its current cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) manufacturing operations in Batesville, Miss. This strategic expansion advances Azuria’s vision of vertically integrating delivery of innovative solutions to the water, wastewater and stormwater markets.
FPVC is the core product of Azuria’s Underground Solutions (UGS) business. The proprietary product combines industry-leading PVC pipe with thermal, butt-fusion joining technology to create a gasket-less, leak-free, fully restrained pipe system with a life expectancy greater than 100 years. With a successful history in pressurized water and water and wastewater applications, FPVC can be installed through open cut or trenchless methods.
The construction timeline for the new facility is still being finalized, and Azuria expects initial production to focus on large-diameter pipe. In addition to manufacturing, the plant will have the capacity and transportation logistics to service the North American market.
Azuria’s current CIPP facility has proudly operated in Batesville since 1988 and today employs approximately 100 people. The new FPVC manufacturing facility is expected to create additional high-quality jobs and strengthen Azuria’s commitment to quality manufacturing – supporting the expectations of customers, local partners and funding stakeholders.
Azuria also acquired Caliagua, Inc., a California-based general engineering contractor utilizing the "design-bid-build" project delivery method. The acquisition strengthens Azuria's capabilities in the water sector while allowing Caliagua to continue operating with its established team and regional focus.
Since 1978, Caliagua has been at the forefront of constructing, rehabilitating and modernizing water and wastewater systems across California. Founded by Oscar Bruner, the company later passed to his son, Gus Bruner, who – alongside his brother Andrew – represented the second generation of leadership. Under their stewardship, Caliagua entered a period of reinvention and growth, strengthening its reputation for technical excellence, integrity and service to public agencies and private clients throughout the state.
Today, Caliagua specializes in the construction of water and wastewater facilities and conveyance systems, including treatment plants, pump stations, pipelines, reservoirs and associated monitoring and control systems. The company primarily serves public agencies throughout California, with additional work in select private-sector markets.
Epiroc
Epiroc USA, a leading productivity partner for the mining, drilling and infrastructure industries, appointed G.W. Van Keppel Company as its authorized Dealer Partner in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri.
G.W. Van Keppel is an established distributor in the equipment industry with an extensive history of service excellence. Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, the company brings many years of industry experience, strong customer relationships and a commitment to quality service. It is still owned and managed by third- and fourth-generation family members today.
G.W. Van Keppel serves customers through branch locations in Fort Worth and New Braunfels, Texas; Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Garden City, Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita, Kansas; and Joplin, Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri. With that coverage, the company is capable of supplying local service expertise, fast parts delivery and proactive service for Epiroc customers in aggregates, construction and drilling markets.
Together, both organizations are committed to maintaining uninterrupted support for customers throughout the territory, with an emphasis on responsive service, reliable parts availability and long-term partnership. As the new distribution structure takes effect, Epiroc remains focused on strengthening its dealer network, expanding local expertise and delivering the high-quality products and solutions that customers expect.
PPI
The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), the major North American trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary – marking a legacy of innovation, collaboration and impact in advancing sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Founded in 1950 as the Thermoplastic Pipe Division of the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), the organization later became the independent non-profit Plastics Pipe Institute.
“PPI was a business unit of the Society of Plastics Industry until 1999,” explained Rich Gottwald, PPI president in the late 1990s. “It was then that we separated from SPI and formed as an independent trade association located in DC. SPI had been in DC since the early ‘80s – prior to that it was in New York City.”
Today, PPI represents the plastic pipe industry across North America and is recognized for its leadership in research, standards development, advocacy and education. During the decades, PPI has played a pivotal role in advancing modern infrastructure by promoting the safe, efficient and sustainable use of plastic piping systems. The PPI staff is supported by more than 200 member companies along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers who work on task groups, technical and marketing-support committees, sharing ideas and experiences.
According to the group, a cornerstone of PPI’s technical leadership is the Hydrostatic Stress Board (HSB), that has played a vital role in advancing the science, testing and performance of plastic piping materials. Made up of industry experts and material scientists, HSB conducts rigorous evaluations to establish pressure ratings, develop testing methodologies and ensure the long-term reliability and safety of plastic piping systems.
From the earliest use of polyethylene pipes for water service lines to today’s cutting-edge multilayered composite systems used in energy infrastructure, PPI has worked closely with regulators, engineers, utilities, contractors and manufacturers to ensure consistent performance and public confidence in plastic piping solutions.
The watershed period of growth started when the PPI board brought on Tony Radoszewski, an experienced marketing executive with an extensive background in both plastics and plastic pipe, as its new president.
“PPI had the foundation for efficiency and expansion when I joined in 2006,” he explained. “This model was that the CPPA division (now Drainage Division) had one engineer directing all its activities. The other sections, however, shared a staff member. This was the catalyst for a major operational change. We focused on having a single, qualified engineer who would lead a division, plus we added dedicated support staff.
“The move from Washington, D.C. to Dallas was also done to better serve PPI members as it was a central location, ideal for meetings with members who could usually fly non-stop from all over North America. We also emphasized a motto of ‘Member Run, Member Led’ and applied it to all decision processes, which continues to payoff for PPI members and the industry overall.”
During the decades, in addition to the Hydrostatic Stress Board, PPI has expanded to include five application-focused divisions – Building & Construction, Drainage, Energy Piping Systems, Municipal & Industrial, and Power & Communications – representing the extensiveness of the industry and its applications. Additionally, the group has heightened and expanded its public policy and legislative initiatives by establishing and staffing a Director of Sustainability & Advocacy this year.
PPI divisions are led by an experienced and expert professional engineer. “These directors bring deep technical knowledge, practical industry insight, and a commitment to advancing best practices,” Fink explained. “Their expertise ensures that PPI’s work is grounded in sound engineering principles and reflects the latest advancements in materials science, system design and industry standards.”
Today, PPI continues to lead by fostering collaboration across the industry to develop technical standards and codes, conduct critical research and provide educational resources for engineers, policymakers and the public.
Key initiatives currently underway include:
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Sustainable Infrastructure Advocacy: Promoting the use of plastic piping as a long-life, low-carbon alternative for modern infrastructure needs.
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Water Conservation and Resilience: Supporting solutions to address aging water systems and climate-related challenges through innovative pipe technologies.
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Education: Investing in training programs and technical publications to support the next generation of engineers and tradespeople.
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Piping Infrastructure Advocacy: Through its Governmental Affairs program, PPI actively engages with policymakers, regulators and stakeholders to promote plastic piping as the material of choice.
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Digital Tools and Data Access: Launching new tools and platforms to improve transparency, data sharing and design accuracy across the industry.
EnviroVac
EnviroVac has merged with Vecta Environmental Services, LLC, a respected provider of environmental, industrial and infrastructure services known for its strong safety culture, customer focus and talented workforce.
The merger represents a strategic milestone for EnviroVac and strengthens the company’s ability to serve customers with expanded capabilities, deeper expertise and an enhanced geographic footprint. The combination with Vecta further accelerates EnviroVac’s growth strategy and reinforces its position as a national leader in industrial services.
“Vecta has built an outstanding reputation in the markets it serves, grounded in safety, operational excellence and a strong commitment to customers,” said Dominick Garton, CEO of EnviroVac. “This acquisition expands our service offerings and geographic reach while bringing together two teams that share a strong cultural alignment and dedication to doing the right thing.”
The acquisition supports EnviroVac’s long-term strategy by:
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Expanding Capabilities: Broadening service lines in hydroblasting, ultra-high-volume blasting, vacuum truck, tank cleaning, hydroexcavation, chemical cleaning, waste management, and insulation & scaffolding services.
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Strengthening Geographic Reach: Enhancing EnviroVac’s footprint and positioning the combined organization for continued national growth.
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Building on Shared Values: Uniting two organizations aligned around safety, quality and operational excellence.
EnviroVac is a leading provider of environmental, industrial and infrastructure services, delivering safe, reliable and high-quality solutions to customers nationwide. With a strong focus on safety, operational excellence and customer service, EnviroVac supports complex projects across a wide range of industries.
Volvo
In an asset purchase, Housby Heavy Equipment transferred its Volvo CE inventory at three dealership locations in Iowa to Rudd Equipment Company, a subsidiary of Ferronordic.
With its construction equipment headquarters based in Louisville, Kentucky, Rudd has been in business for 74 years. This acquisition brings the company to 16 total locations in eight states. The new locations cover most of Iowa and one county in Illinois, where Rudd will be an exclusive Volvo CE dealer offering Volvo CE products and services in the dealer’s new and existing territory.
“This is the first step in expanding our U.S. business,” said Henrik Carlborg, CEO of Ferronordic.
The transaction does not affect Housby’s business for Mack Trucks or any other Housby business. Ferronordic is a construction equipment and trucks service and sales company with branches in the U.S., Germany and Kazakhstan.
Also in the news, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and Unicontrol announced that the software company’s 3D machine control technology is now available on Volvo CE excavators in North America. This follows a 2025 rollout in Europe.
The Unicontrol3D system will be fully integrated with Volvo Active Control, providing one interface with one set of hardware for effortless accessibility. The platform will help excavator operators work with more speed, precision and efficiency: whether they’re digging trenches, grading slopes or creating site profiles.
When customers order the Volvo Co-Pilot with Dig Assist – the Volvo CE machine control system for excavators – from the factory, all necessary hardware and software are installed. The only additional step is to activate the Unicontrol3D application.
Unicontrol, a fast-growing disruptor in 3D machine control owned by U.S.-based Spectra Precision, provides open, flexible and cost-efficient solutions. Aligned with the Volvo CE commitment to digital innovation, the Denmark-based company allows Volvo CE to offer more choices to its customers, so they get the right technology for their needs.
Unlike traditional closed systems, Unicontrol3D is designed for adaptability. The software seamlessly integrates with any type of excavator, any data format and any workflow, allowing contractors to optimize mixed fleets without being locked into a single ecosystem.
WSSC
WSSC Water has again earned a AAA bond rating from all three financial rating agencies – the highest possible credit rating – for the 25th consecutive year, as part of a $379.4-million bond sale. The offering includes $28.5 million in green bonds that will support environmentally beneficial water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) and Moody’s Ratings also noted the rating outlook continues to be stable.
“This milestone is the result of disciplined governance and a strong outcome-based budgeting framework,” said WSSC Water Commission Chair Mark J. Smith. “We have remained focused on key financial metrics, long-term affordability and transparent decision making. These factors give the rating agencies – and our customers – confidence that we are managing our resources responsibly while investing for the future.”
In S&P’s ratings overview, the firm noted: “[WSSC Water’s] credit quality is anchored by the extremely strong management team that has historically demonstrated an ability and willingness to reduce expenditures and increase rates to maintain sufficient coverage and liquidity.…”
In Fitch Ratings’ credit summary, they stated: “The 'AAA' ratings consider [WSSC Water's] 'Very Strong' financial profile, in the context of its 'Very Strong' Revenue Defensibility and 'Very Strong' Operating Risk profiles....”
Moody’s Ratings noted: “We anticipate that the system’s financial position will remain steady given solid annual revenue growth and ongoing expenditure control.”
“This AAA rating directly benefits our customers,” said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell. “We are in the midst of an ambitious capital improvement program - replacing aging infrastructure, strengthening system reliability and resilience. Maintaining the highest credit rating allows us to borrow at lower interest rates, which reduces financing costs and helps keep rates more affordable for the communities we serve. It’s a clear validation of our financial discipline and long-range planning.”
Komatsu
Komatsu North America has entered into an agreement to acquire assets of SRC of Lexington, Inc., a supplier of remanufactured (reman) components and parts for construction and mining equipment based in Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
The acquisition will strengthen Komatsu’s remanufacturing capabilities in North America and expand its ability to support customers, as demand for reman solutions continues to grow. With this investment into a dedicated reman facility in the U.S., Komatsu will further strengthen its presence in North America, one of the world’s largest construction and mining equipment markets.
“North America is one of Komatsu’s most important markets for both construction and mining equipment,” said Danny Murtagh, vice president-Parts and Infrastructure, Komatsu North America. “This acquisition allows us to deepen our reman capabilities closer to customers, improve responsiveness and support dealers and end users with high-quality, cost-effective solutions throughout the equipment lifecycle.”
Through its reman operations, Komatsu recovers used components from construction and mining equipment, restores them to like-new condition at dedicated facilities and returns them to the market with the same quality standards as new components. Remanufacturing can help reduce cost and lead time while supporting resource efficiency through reuse.
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